Lagangarbh Hut Meet, Gencoe. June 2009 (See photos )

[Derek Kenyon]

The forecast wasn’t looking to good, but that didn’t stop us filling the hut. Keith and I arrived at 5.30 on the Friday and decided to take full advantage of the lovely evening. Dumping the Sacks off we plodded up to the Col behind the Lagangarbh hut with a view to flying up the back of the Buachaille Etive Mor and as usual suck it and see. It took us an hour to get up to the col, and we were rewarded with a nice breeze and a perfect launch site, but would it be enough to soar up the south west face to the summit. As we were gearing up a loan walker started the final plod up the rocky arête to the summit, would we beat him to the top. Keith was playing wind dummy today which left me to get the launch shots, and watch his progress. I was surprised how straight away he started climbing up the rocky slopes in the evening sun; obviously the thermals were still working. Soon I was airborne and following his lead, working the lift and climbing to the summit. Eventually we where soaring back and forth over the summit and with the walker now on top admiring the views. Our plan was to fly back over and land near the hut, but we would have to gain more height to avoid any rotor on the lee side. It took 20min before Keith hooked in to a nice thermal and spiralled out over the summit, with me follow not long after. We where both surprised how good the lift was in the Glencoe valley and spent another 20min boating around in the evening lift before landing a couple of hundred meters from the hut. Great start to the weekend.

Saturday Keith and I joined Rick and Colin on Broad Buttress scramble on Buachaille Etive Mor. The route followed some lovely sweeping granite slabs with some quite tricky sections, leading right up into the mist and on to the summit. (Good job we got the views the evening before) By 1pm we were back at the hut having lunch and planning our afternoon’s adventure. Rick and Colin went off and did a rock route on the Buckle again leaving Keith and I to walk from the hut to the opposite side of the valley for another flight. You never know how things pan out and today the winds where coming from all directions pulling in rain clouds one minute from Glencoe direction and the next Ranoch Mor end. I ended up the last one up, when I did eventually land I drop my kit out side the hut and sat straight down to my tea and a beer.
(Thanks for that Lou) can't beat that for service.

That night we presented Lee's young lad with a certificate for climbing the Ben, he was well chuffed.
The night was spent chilling out with some of us having a good sing song.

For us Sunday was a reconnoitre to look at a possible flying site on the West coast but rain stop play, so we ended up taking our gliders for a walk.

Over all everyone got plenty done, great weekend yet again

Derek